Biography
Personal Pathway
That photo shows my hometown of Dayton, KY -- just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, OH (which you can see to upper-right). If you're one of my students from California, you might notice something surprising in the photo: the trees have no leaves. Where I grew up, there was this weird thing called winter 😉. In 2018, I moved away from the seasons of the Midwest and into the eternal sunshine of Southern California. Both my young kids are native Californian, so I've put down roots! My favorite aspects of California? Definitely the ocean, mountains, and sun. I love playing beach volleyball and hiking the Santa Monica Mountains.
Career Pathway
After graduating with a B.S. in Physics with a minor in French from University of Notre Dame, I took a gap year in which I taught English to high schoolers in France. Then, I completed my M.S. and Ph.D. in Physics at The Ohio State University, with specialization in experimental and computational plasma physics with intense lasers.
I researched for two years as a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics at the University of Chicago. As a postdoc, I used supercomputers to simulate plasma interactions and guide large laboratory-astrophysics experiments around the world. In my second year, I worked mostly remote from California, where my partner lived.
I followed my postdoc by immersing myself into two jobs simultaneously in California. I worked part-time as an Assistant Researcher at University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), where I computationally modeled plasma interactions and led laser-laboratory experiments. At the same time, I served as a Lecturer in the Computer Science Program and Applied Physics Program at California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI). While I taught and researched, I also successfully applied for my current position as an Assistant Professor (tenure-track) at CSUCI.
Current Role at CSUCI
Since 2019, and continuing, I am a full-time Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at CSUCI. My official job duties include research, teaching, and service.
My research interests include control systems infrastructure for large laser facilities, high-data-rate experimental science, scientific electronics and hardware, and physical simulations using high-performance-computing. I collaborate with interdisciplinary teams including computer scientists, mathematicians, plasma physicists, chemists, software engineers, and environmental scientists.
I teach using the latest techniques and technology where it is helpful, such as cloud-based CAD modeling, interactive textbooks, cloud computing environments, and hybrid-format small-group activities.
My service includes outreach into my community, both academic and at-large. I am particularly invested in getting undergraduate students involved in research, and in creating a holistic and inclusive student experience. I also organize campus and community events, and serve as an undergraduate advisor for the Department of Computer Science. I am excited to work with driven, passionate colleagues and students, and to build connections within my academic and social community.